Awning



b. s. ZACK AWNING March 3, 1959 SSheets-Sheet 1 7 Filed Sept. 17. 1953 INVENTOR OJgA/P Jr ZACK BY A rrozwvns' March 3, 1959 AWNING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1953 March 3, 1959 o. s. ZACK 2,875,827

AWNING Filed Se tQl'Z, 1953 :5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

OSCAR 6. ZACK.

22m 6 kw United States Patent U 2,875,827 AWNING Oscar S. Zack, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 17, 1953, SetialNo. 380,768 2 Claims. Cl. 160-165 This invention relates to awning structures and particularly to an extensible and retractable louver type awning.

The herein disclosed invention is an improved form of awning structure shown in my prior Patent No. 2,591,758 issued April 8, 1952. Therein disclosed is an extensible awning which can be mounted on the outside wall of "a building, as for example, over a window opening, and which'comprises a plurality of louver members mounted on a'lazy tong truss in a novel manner such that when the truss is retracted or closed up the louvers will nest together in close proximity and whenthe trust is extended the louvers may be rotated about their linear axes while overlapping each other and extending downwardly andoutwardly of the building. v An object of the present invention isthe pro'vision'of a similar type of truss having connected pairs of crossing linkspivotally coupled together at theircio'ssi'ng points, with afplurality of relatively planar louvermembers associated with the-truss, with the plane of "the louvers lying on the pivotal axis of the links and 'connected'to the links along their linear edges.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an awning structure as aforesaid wherein the 'louvers 'are end sections such that a louver member associated'with 1 the link will-lie along the offset edges of the end sections with one end section of thelink overlying one face of the louver "and the other end section overlying the other face of the louver, and withthe plane of the louverlyin'g onor. parallel to the pivotal axis of the link.

A meritorious feature of the invention is the provision of novel actuating means whereby the lazy tong truss may be extended or retracted either from outside'o'r 'within the building.

An advantage of theinvention is the provision of collapsible linkage which permits the supporting arms of the awning structureto be collapsed for shipment of the awning.

Another advantage of the invention is the provision of a lazy-tong truss particularly suited to the support of }'corrugated type louvers, with one link of each pair of links of the truss exhibiting at its extremities oifset shoulders adapted to position a corrugated-louver on the link, and prevent transverse movement thereof with respect --to the link.

Other objects, advantages and meritorius features of the invention will-morefully appear from the following description, appended claims and accompanyingdrawings, wherein: I

Fig. 1- shows 'a side elevation of the awning in the extended position;

Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail, illustration of the ofiset character of the pivotal connection of the links comprising the lazy tong truss; Fig. 5 is an end view of the differential-drum mechanism; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the mechanism taken on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the pivotal connecting .link adapted to facilitate collapsing of the -supporting arms of the awning structure;

--Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. '7 "but shows the supporting arms in the normal operative position;

Fig. 9 is a side .view of the connecting'link taken along line'9--9 of Fig. 7;

.Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of differential drum the end of the louver supporting link of two pairs of links in the lazy tong truss;

.Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken onthe line 11-11 of Fig. 4.

The invention as shown in 'Figs. 1 and 3 comprises a pair of lazy tong trusses generally indicatedas 10, each consisting of connectedpairs of crossing links. In Fig. 1 the connected pairs are indicated, from thetop or upper end-of the truss to the bottom or lower end, as 12, 14, 16, 18,20 and 22 respectively.

They are pivotally coupled at their crossing points as at 24. 'Eachpairis pivotally connected toadjacent pairs at'the extremity of the links as at 26. 'One of the links '28'of each pair is made up of two links 29 and 31 disposed side by side and similarly shaped and embracing the other link 30 of the pair as shown moreparticularly in Figs. 3 and 4.

The links 28 of each pair as well as the link 30 embraced by link 28 is shaped, as shown jparticularly in Fig. 4, to define offset end sections 32 and 34. These offset end sections are spaced apart above andbelow the pivotal axis of'the links so that the substantially planar louver member 36 may be disposedalong the offset edges 38 and 40 of the link 28. It will be noted thatthe links "are jogged at their crossing pointsfto elfect this offset character of the end sections and that theupper 'edg e4l) of end section 34 is disposed spaced below' the lower edge 38 of' the opposite'end section 32.

Links 28 are shaped at their extremities'beyond the pivotal connections 26 with adjacent'pairsof links to exhibit end'extensions 42 and 44. Because links'2'8each consist of two similarly shaped links as aforesaid, each end extension consists ofa pair of similarly shaped spaced apartextensions'de'fining a 'slot. -therebetween. Bolts 46 or the like pas between the extensions and through the slot of each pair and through the louvers. Nuts 47 extending between each extension'of-each pair, and overlying the lower edges 49 of the pairs of' extensions, cooperate with the bolts tosecurethe louverszto the links. Bolts 45 pass through the uppermost louver and through link 28 of the uppermost pair of links, spaced from the extremity of such. link nearest the wall-of'the building, to secure such louver to the link.

The upper ends of'the lazy tong trusses are adapted tobe mounted on the wall 48 of the building just above the header of a Window opening. As shown in-Fig. l, the sashes of. the window opening are indicated by 50 and 52. A pair of mounting brackets 54 arepivotally connected to the pivot points 26 of the uppermost pair of links of each truss. The brackets 54 are mounted on the wall of the building as by-screws 56- orthe like. A

'capstrip 58 substantially L-shaped incross section overlies the upper end of the truss and is fastened to the wall as by screws 60. This cap strip prevents rain from passing through the space between the upper end of the awning and the building.

The lower end of the truss is supported on a pair of supporting arms 70 and 72. These arms are pivotally connected to 'the' wall of the building substantially below the point of pivotal connection of the upper end of the truss and the building by the brackets 74. The outer ends of the arms are connected to the truss at the crossing point 24 of the lower pair of links of each truss. This connection is elfected by a collapsible coupling including connecting links 76 shown particularly in Figs. 7-9. A brace 78 extends along beneath the lowermost louver of the awning structure and is connected at each end to one of the supporting arms as by the triangular plates 80 and 82. Bolts 84 or the like connectthe plates to the brace and the supporting arms.

Each of the connecting links 76 of the collapsible coupling is provided with a triangularly shaped aperture 86 through which is received the end of the brace 78, with the links thereby embracing the ends of the brace. As shown in Figs..79 the links are connected at the pivotal points of connection of the lowest pair of links in each truss.

Fig. 8 shows one of the supporting arms 70 connected to the brace 78 substantially at right angles thereto and with each of the bolts 84 engaging the brace and the supporting arms to hold these parts in the position shown. In such position the arms extend perpendicularly away from the awning as in Fig. 2. By removing the bolt 85 the supporting arms may be swung to a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 7. This will facilitate collapsing of the supporting arms and permit the awning to be shipped in a smaller package than if the supporting arms were extended. When each supporting arm, as shown in Fig. 8, is connected to the brace so that the arm is in the operative position it lies just inside of the connecting link 76 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. This will prevent the ends of the brace from becoming disengaged with the links 76 because of linear movement of the brace 78.

To actuate the awning structure, three sheaves 88, 90 and 92 are provided mounted on the wall of the building and over which passes the two stretches of flexible cable 94 and 96. Employing two sets of sheaves, a set may be mounted adjacent each of the lazy tong trusses. Sheave 88 is mounted adjacent the upper end of the window opening and spaced slightly below the point of connection of the upper end ofvthe brace with the wall of the building. Sheave 90 is attached to the building under the sill of the window opening and spaced substantially below the point of connection of the supporting arms with the building.

The third sheave 92 is mounted on the wall of the building spaced slightly below sheave 90. Stretch 94 of the cable is attached to the lowest pair of links 22 of the lazy tong truss at the pivotal connection of the pair with the next superjacent pair. More specifically, the cable is attached to the truss at the pivotal connection 26 nearest the wall of the building. The cable stretch 94 passes over the sheave 88 and thence downwardly and over sheave 92 until it reaches the differential drum mechanism 97.

Cable stretch 96 is attached to the lazy tong truss at the same point that stretch 94 is attached and extends over sheave 90 and thence to the differential drum mechanism. A suitably provided slot in the lowermost louver permits the passage of stretch 96 through the louver.

It is important that stretch 96 be attached to the truss at a point between pivotal connection 24 of the lowest pair of links and the end extremity of link 28 nearest the building. Preferably this point of connection should lie near the extremity of link 28. A' suitable point of connection-is the pivotal connection of the lowest. pair of 4 7 links with the next superjacent pair at the same point that stretch 94 is attached to the truss.

The reason for the importance of the connection of stretch 96 with the truss in the area indicated and specifically at the point shown in the drawings, is because as the truss is extended from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, the extremity of link 28 nearest the building of the lowest pair of links, moves in a downwardly arcuate path about pivot point 24 during the initial movement of the truss. The opposite extremity of link 28 moves upwardly in an arcuate path about pivot point 24 during the initial movement of the truss to the extended position.

The force necessary to break the truss open from the position shown in Fig. 2, taken along a line extending from sheave to the link 28 of the lowest pair of links, increases as the line of force is moved from the extremity of such link nearest the building toward the pivotal axis 24. Therefore, that point on link 28 at which the least force is required to extend the truss lies at the extremity of the link nearest the wall of the building. It is to be noted that if the stretch 96 is attached to the link 28 at a point outwardly of the pivotal connection 24, the truss will not open from the position of Fig. 2, but rather the tendency is to close the truss or retract it to such position.

To effect tensioning of the-stretches of cable, a differential drum mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 is adapted to be mounted on the wall of the building with the stretches wrapped around the drums thereof. It is shown in the drawings as being mounted on the outside wall, though it is to be understood that it could as well be mounted on the inside of the building with appropriate sheaves provided to lead the stretches through the wall of the building. I

It comprises two semi-circular supporting members respectively numbered 98 and 100. The supporting members are spaced apart and provided with flanges 104 and 106, through which bolts 108 or the like are received which are adapted tov mount the mechanism on the building wall. Aperturcs 109 and 110 are provided through each flange, with the diameter of the apertures being in excess of the diameter of the bolts 108 for a purpose disclosed hereinafter. A third supporting member 112 is disposed between members 98 and 100. Throughthe centers of each supporting member are the apertures 116, 118 and 120. A pair of drums 122 and 124 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 126 received through the apertures 116, 118 and 120. Each of the drums is provided with a hub at one end indicated at 128 and 130. These hubs are respectively received through apertures 116 and 120. The other ends of the drums exhibit hubs 132 and 134 which are received within apertures 118 of the supporting member 112, Three bolts 136, equidistantly spaced about the drums, pass through the supporting members and are adapted to tension them toward one another. It is to permit this tensioning that apertures 109 and 110 are larger than the bolts 108.

The ends of shaft 126 exhibit radially projecting lugs 138 and 140. These lugs are adapted to be alternately received within complementary recesses 142 and 144 in the hubs 128 and of the drums. A handle 146 is mounted at one end of the shaft 126.

Upon axial movement of the shaft in one direction, as for example, to the position shown in Fig. 6, lug 138 will engage recess 142 and upon rotation of the shaft the drum 122 will be revolved therewith. Similarly, upon axial movement of the shaft to the position such that lug engages recess 144, upon rotation of the shaft the drum 124 will be revolved therewith.

It is to be noted that the drum not engaged by'the lug will be free to rotate about shaft 126; and that'by tightening of the bolts 136 a drag may be imposed upon the free rotation of a drum by virtue of the squeezing action of the supporting members 98, 112 and 100 against be extended from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1. Upon rotation of the drum to tension stretch 94, the awning will be retracted.

The reason for providing the difierential drum mechanism is because as the truss is extended, pivot point 26 nearest the wall of the building of the lower pair of connecting links moves farther away from sheave 88 than does it move toward sheave 90. Consequently cable stretch 94 must unwind from the drum mechanism 97 faster than stretch 96 is wound thereon and the ordinary type winding drum would be inoperative.

In Fig. 1 the supporting arm 70 is not provided with the collapsible link 76 but is shown as extending from the bracket 74 'to the pivotal coupling 24. This is an alternative construction which provides a very rigid structure but does not have the advantage of ready collapsibility of the arms as results from the employment of the link As shown in Fig. 3, a third lazy tong truss 148 may be disposed between the end trusses to impart greater strength to the awning. It is to be understood that two or more lazy tong trusses are contemplated, with the number being determined by the width of the windows to be shaded and the amount of rigidity desired in the awning structure.

The louvers 36 shown in Fig. 4 are corrugated, and may be made of lightweight metal such as aluminum, wood, or of suitable plastic material such as fiber-glass. The louvers shown in Fig. 1 are flat sheets made of similar materials.

Fig. shows an alternative shape for the extremities of the louver supporting link of each pair of links in the lazy tong truss. The supporting links are of the same character as those previously described as 28, except that the extremities beyond the pivotal connection 26 are shaped to provide ofiset end portions or shoulders 150 having an upper edge 152 extending above the upper edges of the adjoining end sections of the links. This upper edge 152 of each supporting link is shaped to conform with the corrugation 154 extending along the marginal edge of the louver 36 seated on the link. The shoulder is adapted to position the louver on the link and prevent lateral movement of the louver with respect to the link.

The opposite extremities of link 28 may be provided with these shoulders, or in the alternative, the shoulders may be provided at only one extremity. Bolts 156 passing through the louvers, extend through shoulders 150. C0- operating nuts 158 tension the louver downwardly against the shoulder.

What I claim is:

1. An extensible awning structure comprising: a lazy tong truss having pairs of crossing links with the links of each pair pivotally connected midway between opposite ends and with adjacent pairs of links pivotally connected together at their extremities, one link of each pair of links comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart parallel link elements embracing the other link of such pair of links at the pivotal connection and embracing opposite extremities of the links of adjacent pairs at the pivotal connection therewith, said link elements having extensions extending beyond the points of pivotal connection with adjacent pairs of links, that link of each pair of crossing links comprising the link elements being jogged at the point of pivotal connection with the companion link to provide offset end sections, a louver member provided with an aperture sized to closely fit about the jogged link of each pair of crossing links with one louver member associated with each pair of links and with the jogged link received through said aperture such that the pivot point lies substantially in the plane of the louver member and with the faces of the louver member overlying opposite edges of the offset end sections and end extensions of the link, and fastener means extending between the link element extensions at opposite ends of the jogged link outwardly beyond the pivotal connection of adjacent pairs of links and coupled to the louver member to rigidly secure such member to the jogged link.

2. An extensible and retractable awning structure comprising: a lazy tong truss having connected pairs of crossing links pivotally coupled together at their crossing points and with adjacent pairs of links pivotally connected at their extremities, a relatively planar louver member mounted on one link of each pair, said one link of each pair provided at opposite extremities with slots opening through the link beyond the pivotal connection of adjacent pairs of links, and fastener means extending through each slot and through the louver to secure the louver to the link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 702,146 McCloud June 10, 1902 1,257,539 Sheehan Feb. '26, 1918 2,247,616 McNelly July 1, 1941 2,254,583 Stuart Sept. 2, 1941 2,564,641 Drake et al. Aug. 14, 1951 2,591,758 Zack Apr. 8, 1952 2,654,425 Haynes Oct. 6, 1953 

